Bottle gourd Pulao/ Soraikkai Pulao/ Lauki Pulao

Bottle gourd is a vegetable in squash family which is known as “soraikkai” in tamil, “lauki” or “dhoodhi” in hindi and “choraka” in malayalam.

Bottle gourd has high water content making it easy for digestion and it is also a low calorie vegetable, helping in weight loss. It is rich in fiber, iron, other nutrients and protein.

It is used a lot in Indian cooking. My mother makes many dishes using bottle gourd. Both sweet and savory recipes can be made out of it.

The recipe I have shared today is a tasty, simple and mild pulao recipe made out of bottlegourd and some green peas which goes well with a spicy side dish.

This recipe will be liked by everyone in family and it is a best dish to make when you are in hurry and looking for new recipes out of bottle gourd😊

Let us check the recipe now❤

INGREDIENTS

1 cup= 200 ml.

  • Bottlegourd/ soraikkai/ lauki- 2 and a half cups (heaped)
  • Green peas- 3/4th cup
  • Basmati rice- 2 cups
  • Ginger garlic paste- 1 tbsp
  • Green chilli – 3 ( slit lengthwise)
  • Onion- 1 medium sized ( finely chopped, lengthwise)
  • Mint leaves- handful
  • Turmeric powder- 1/4th tsp
  • Fennel seeds- 1 tsp
  • Bay leaf- 1
  • Cinnamon stick- 1 inch
  • Cloves- 3
  • Cardamom pods- 2
  • Salt- as needed
  • Coriander leaves- handful.

PROCEDURE

Clean the bottle gourd well, peel the skin, cut it lengthwise and discard the seeds inside.

Cut it into slightly bigger pieces.

Clean the rice well and soak it in water for 20 minutes.
In a pressure cooker pan, heat 1 tbsp of oil and 1 tbsp of ghee. Add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, 1 tsp of fennel seeds, green chillies. Let the flame be in medium.
After a minute, add finely chopped onions. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
Once the onions turn translucent, add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes away.
Once the raw smell of ginger garlic paste goes away, add the cut bottle gourd/ soraikkai pieces.
Add the green peas now.
Saute them in oil for a minute.
Then add the turmeric powder and needed salt. 3/4th to 1 tsp of salt is needed normally. Adjust the salt according to your salt.
Add a handful of mint leaves and saute everything together for a minute or two.
Now add 3 and a half cups of water.
Once the water comes to boil, drain the water from soaked rice and add it.
Now close the pressure cooker and cooker it in medium flame for 1 whistle. After 1 whistle, switch off the stove and move it from flame immediately.
Once the pressure released and when we open the pressure cooker.
Garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves on top.
Ready.

TIPS

  • This pulao can be cooked in a normal vessel too by covering it with a lid on top. When cooking in this method, add more half cup of water to cook rice. Open the lid and check if the water added is enough now and then.